Former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani has criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over its decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
On Tuesday evening, CAF announced that Morocco has been declared the winner of AFCON 2025.
The ruling followed the CAF Appeals Board’s determination in favor of Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which concluded that Senegal forfeited the final after walking off the field during the championship match.
For this reason, Morocco were awarded a 3–0 walkover victory.
This decision upholds Morocco’s appeal following the chaotic events in the match.
Morocco had remained on the pitch after the centre referee awarded them a controversial penalty while Senegalese players, propelled by their coach, protested by walking off the pitch.
Only Sadio Mane, the team’s captain, remained on the field of play and later persuaded others to come back and continue the match.
Morocco missed the penalty as Senegal went on to win the game by a lone goal.
Angered by CAF’s decision, Sani wrote on X, “Senegal won the AFCON on the pitch but was snatched by CAF in the Boardroom; that’s unconscionable and a dangerous precedent in African football.
“The fact that the Senegalese team walked out in protest and returned to play till the final whistle doesn’t warrant this afterthought daylight robbery. They just want to reward Morocco for hosting and losing.”